Simsbury's Community for Care provides resources to parents to address drug and alcohol issues among young people

Simsbury's Community for Care provides resources to parents to address drug and alcohol issues among young people

Simsbury's Community for Care provides resources to parents to address drug and alcohol issues among young people

Drug and alcohol use among young people often occurs outside of school hours, and many parents are reluctant to contact school officials when they suspect a problem or have questions. In response, Simsbury’s newly-formed Town and School Community for Care Committee is providing copies of “A Parent’s Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug Use” to all parents attending open houses at Simsbury High School and Henry James Memorial School.

The Parent’s Guide provides a glimpse into drugs commonly abused by young people, information about substance abuse -- and a list of local school and non-school resources available to help parents and young people who need help.

Working on education and awareness, the Simsbury Police Department School Resource Officers recently made an informative and eye-opening presentation to The Community for Care about what drugs and substances they are seeing in the community. If you would like to view the presentation you can visit Simsbury Community Television at http://simsburytv.org/v/9VuOVz5LDA0.

The Town and School Community for Care Committee was formed to discuss and communicate issues of mental health and substance abuse in our community. While the schools, Town, houses of worship, and families address these issues separately, the Committee’s mission is to better coordinate responses, improve communication between the various groups, and engage in coordinated actions to educate, inform and communicate.

Additional copies of The Parent’s Guide are available at the town’s Social Services Department, the Simsbury Police Department, the First Selectman’s office, the Simsbury Public Library, and the main offices at Simsbury High School and Henry James.

For more information, please contact the co-chairs of the Community for Care Committee: Woody Eddins 860-651-3356, woody@simsburyumc.org or Selectman Lisa Heavner 860-651-4929, lheavner@simsbury-ct.gov.